Lego Mercedes fire truck repairs

These two vehicles had had details painted in silver by a previous owner. So undiluted Dettol was applied to those areas with a cotton swab. This is the original brown Dettol, which is reasonably safe to use on Lego cars if not left on too long. It does seriously smell up the kitchen however, so do keep a few windows open, and make sure to keep it off your skin and out of your mouth and eyes.

Dettol is a thick fluid, which stays nicely in place on the affected areas. Paint started dissolving after a few hours, and was wiped off with a cotton swab before new Dettol was daubed on. All in all the paint was entirely removed over a weekend, after which the remaining Dettol was thoroughly rinsed off.

Small update: I've later discovered that Dettol will bleach the pigments in coloured ABS plastic if immersed in Dettol for more than half an hour or so. As stated here, applying it locally to a painted surface works fine if used carefully. I'm adding this here in case somebody would read this post and get the impression that Dettol is always safe to use on ABS for any length of time. Cellulose plastic parts don't seem to be affected though.

With the paint removed, I had a very presentable fire truck, complete with its own original hose reel and ladder. 

The only thing left to fix was a missing ladder stop at right behind the cabin, which was cut and sanded to shape from a piece of broken red ABS brick.

Another Mercedes fire truck I obtained in a lot was missing its hose reel as well as one of the hooks the reel fits into. Another strip was sawn off the red ABS brick, and cut and sanded to shape to make a replacement hook.

With the replacement hook in place, a reproduction hose reel I made could be fitted to complete the truck. A sticker underneath the truck mentions these parts in case it would ever get sold.